242 A PLOT. 



turn out of their moral laboratories paragons of princes and 

 princesses, such as were never before known since the world 

 began. Now of this most curious art and mystery, you must 

 know, my lords, that I have picked up quite enough to model 

 you as pretty a queen as any subject need desire. Get me but 

 a place within yonder royal nursery, and 



I'll do I'll doI'll do 1 



Then, under a sovereign truly of our own making, shall we me- 

 chanics and labourers of the community, when, like myself, 

 worn out with toil, receive some better recompense than desti- 

 tution or death ; and you, my masters, instead of ending by the 

 same, a short if pleasant life, shall be permitted by a kind and 

 gentle mistress, to enjoy your libations, love, and leisure, even 

 to the term of your natural existence!" 



Here a mingled hum of surprise and approbation succeeded 

 to the silence which had reigned during the speech of the aged 

 sybil. Personal interest had aroused her hearers from their usual 

 drowsy apathy, and anxious for a reform of royalty, which was 

 so greatly to benefit themselves, they were eager to test the real- 

 ity of the old dame's pretensions, by doing all they could to for- 

 ward her desire. It may seem strange that the male patrician 

 order, worthless as we have described it, should have possessed 

 any influence at all with the Amazonian people of Apia ; but 

 the latter well knew how necessary these idlers would have 

 been for a season to the sovereign defunct ; and that as they 

 would be no less so to her successor, then in making, they 



